When Blaine was in the Philippines writing about poor people who can't afford to buy rice, I went to Nishimachi's annual fundraising auction at the Grand Hyatt - and, wow, we couldn't have been in two more distant worlds.
Guilt for posh living aside, I really enjoyed dressing up for the Bollywood theme. Like many Nishimachi moms, I bought a sari from a shop in the Hiroo neigborhood near our house. The shop owner is very persuasive; I tried a dark color before he suggested that I try the fuchsia - and I was sold. I went to the shop before the auction so he could drape and pin it on me properly. How will I ever wear it again?
There's a silent auction for various things, including class artwork that sells for a few hundred dollars. This was Lucinda's class project (her photograph and handprint are in the upper left), which sold for 10,000 yen, or about $100.
The live auction is an odd experience, as bankers and hedge funders, etc., spend thousands for donated trips to India, or chauffered shopping sprees, or an 18-course catered Chinese dinner for 50 people, or a baseball game hosted by Bobby Valentine (who coaches in Japan).
Such profligacy separates the very wealthy from the merely wealthy and from families (like ours) who bid on dinners in the online auction. It's a great school for Lucinda and I'm not complaining, though who wouldn't reconsider an MBA at such a moment?
I took my camera out for a spin to capture the costumes, and here are some favorites. Check out these fabrics.
And this woman chose a lovely, traditional kimono.
No comments:
Post a Comment